Why is a Variegated Plant Considered Heteroplasmic

Question

Why is a variegated plant considered heteroplasmic?
A)The plant has mutant and wild-type chloroplast DNAs distributed amongst the cells in different ratios.
B)The plant has only two types of cells, one with only mutant chloroplast DNAs and one with only wild-type chloroplast DNAs.
C)All of the plant's cells have mutant and wild-type chloroplast DNAs.
D)All of the plant's cells have mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Accepted Answer

Variegated plants are considered heteroplasmic because they contain a mixture of mutant and wild-type chloroplast DNAs within their cells, distributed in varying ratios. This genetic diversity within the cells contributes to the variegation observed in the leaves or stems.